Yule Be Surprised

Paradoxically, the holidays have knocked us off-kilter a bit and we've fallen off the trail in our studies. We have a plan for getting back to regular reading and writing after New Year's though.

We went to the Yule ritual at CedarLight Grove. It was a cold night and the whole experience was a little uncomfortable physically, but otherwise a good time of renewal.

We honored the Norse deities, and it felt unexpectedly familiar, and Lynda found it especially fulfilling. I had read some about Asatru before rejoining ADF, and I appreciated seeing some sense of what it means to honor the Norse in practice. We "sacrificed" a straw goat in lieu of a real one, and one of the clergy sprinkled red wine around the circle in lieu of goat's blood.

The evening also marked a change of officers at the grove, with a new senior druid taking over. I am new enough to not really have any way to know what to expect in terms of how that may change things, but ready to wait and see.

For all of you, Happy Yule, Merry Christmas, Good Solstice.

I Spoke Too Soon

The intention I expressed in my last post has proven to be easier said than done. At this point, I'm planning to go to the Yule ritual at CedarLight Grove and probably leave off most other ADF study until the new year.

I'm a little disappointed at that, but I do have to prioritize. The kindred will understand, I hope.